(A) An impounded animal shall be held for a period of three days (not including the day of impoundment), after which, if the animal has not been claimed by the owner and the proper fee paid as prescribed herein, the animal shall be considered abandoned and the owner shall be divested of all ownership and rights to the animal. The animal shall become the property of the city and shall be subject to adoption, transfer to another shelter or animal rescue organization, or humane euthanasia at the city’s sole discretion.
(B) If the owner of the impounded animal is known, as soon as practicable after impoundment, immediate notice shall be given to such owner. Animals with any type of traceable identification shall be kept for not less than ten days, or not less than three days from the time the owner is notified, whichever is the shorter time period. If such animal is not redeemed within three days, and after reasonable effort has been made to locate its owner, it shall be considered abandoned and the owner shall be divested of all ownership and right to the animal. After this time period, the animal shall become the property of the city and may be placed for adoption subject to payment of the impoundment fee, care and feeding charges, and such other costs as incurred by the Animal Services Division for the welfare of the animal, or the animal may be humanely euthanized or placed under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
(C) The owner of an impounded animal may reclaim the animal, during normal hours of operation of the Cleburne Animal Shelter, on the following conditions:
(1) Satisfactory proof of ownership of the animal;
(2) Photo identification by the person reclaiming the animal;
(3) Proof of current vaccination of the animal, if vaccination of the animal is required by the provisions of this chapter. Non-current animals must be vaccinated by the owner as a condition of the animal’s release;
(4) Payment of all impoundment fees and other costs and expenses incurred by the city in keeping the animal and attempting to locate the owner of the animal; and
(5) Payment of the costs of fitting and registration of the fitting of the animal with a microchip under the auspices of the Animal Shelter.
(D) Due to the potential for contaminating the environment and causing harm to scavenging animals, the carcass of any animal that has been humanely euthanized with sodium pentobarbital or any other controlled substance will not be released to any individual except as provided herein.
(1) Burial of animals that have been euthanized with sodium pentobarbital is prohibited within the corporate city limits of Cleburne.
(2) The carcass of an animal which has been euthanized with sodium pentobarbital may be released to a professional company that provides cremation services for animals upon approval by the Animal Services Manager.
(a) The release of any carcass that has been humanely euthanized with sodium pentobarbital is at the discretion and authority of the Animal Services Manager.
(b) Approval of the cremation service company is at the discretion and authority of the Animal Services Manager.
('68 Code, § 5-20) (Ord. 3-1989-10, passed 3-21-89; Am. Ord. 09-2016-47, passed 9-27-16; Am. Ord. 07-2021-32, passed 7-13-21)